How much research did you do before taking the plunge?

[Formulator]

We’ve all see the hopelessly uninformed posts on here from time to time, something like “help all my fish and corals are dying in my 2 day old tank!”

So how much time did you spend researching before you bought your first tank? For further discussion, do you think there is a bare minimum you would recommend to a new reefer?

 

[LPS Bum]

When I set up my first tank 25 years ago, the research came from books. I read all that I could, started with a 75 gal fish only and worked my way up from there.

Nowadays there’s almost too much info. I always tell people to master temp and salinity, learn to keep fish and softies alive and well for a year and then you can get into stony corals. Baby steps.

 

[mousehunter]

I am mostly retired - so it is not so much a time in months, but hours of research. This project probably only started a little over a month ago - IF I really wanted to check I could. I had problems with my old lights and made a trip to the city to get a replacement. Then saw a cube I had always wanted and got it for my son. He told me he really wanted to do salt water, so I started down that path of research. About a month ago, I started collecting parts, now I am down to only missing 2. I need to build the sump and the stand. Also need to drill the aquarium. Still need salt, and any extra supplements, but hard for me to know what those will be yet. Once everything is up, may bite the bullet and order live rocks (or even "The Package"...

That said, I am pretty sure that was in the hundreds of hours of research by now. One current worry is will Neptune figure out the bug in the last software update. WAS planning on using their quiet drive DOS pump eventually (once I know what additives I will be needing).

I have 3 fairly close relatives that have done FOWLER systems with limited success. They had no success with adding corals. That said, talking with all of them, I also realize some of the mistakes they made. Mostly water, probably light...

I have already reached the point of research overload and saturation. It really all needs to settle out to get a clearer view.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

My first tank was in 2005. I wasn’t in any groups or forums. All my initial knowledge came from the lfs at that time. I designed and maintained their website, so I learned about names, care requirements, and the equipment from it. I think it was about 2-4 weeks of that before I got hooked and setup my first tank. It didn’t last but a year though because of the economy at the time.

When I got back into reefing in 2018, I researched for a few weeks. Mostly BRS videos. I used the knowledge I remembered with the new I gained.

 

[Jekyl]

My research was easy. I learned that @Paul B was the man with the plan and just copied best I could.

Again, thanks for the help Paul.

 

[Jekyl]

We’ve all see the hopelessly uninformed posts on here from time to time, something like “help all my fish and corals are dying in my 2 day old tank!”

So how much time did you spend researching before you bought your first tank? For further discussion, do you think there is a bare minimum you would recommend to a new reefer?

As for when to add what, it will be highly contested. For best outcome my recommendation for coral would be around when coraline starts becoming a problem.

 

[Formulator]

My research was easy. I learned that @Paul B was the man with the plan and just copied best I could.

Again, thanks for the help Paul.

I may have to add this to the poll responses. I think there are probably a lot of folks who didn’t do a lot of independent research and just emulated another successful reefer or follow a protocol, without necessarily having a complete understanding of why they do what they do or why it works.

 

[Jekyl]

I may have to add this to the poll responses. I think there are probably a lot of folks who didn’t do a lot of independent research and just emulated another successful reefer or follow a protocol, without necessarily having a complete understanding of why they do what they do or why it works.

It still works as I picked 2-5 months.

 

[cohojoe412]

I explored the hobby in 2017 and decided not to jump in which ended up being the right call
At the time. Then spent the last year researching more and jumped in 6 months ago.

 

[Formulator]

When I set up my first tank 25 years ago, the research came from books. I read all that I could, started with a 75 gal fish only and worked my way up from there.

Nowadays there’s almost too much info. I always tell people to master temp and salinity, learn to keep fish and softies alive and well for a year and then you can get into stony corals. Baby steps.

Your advice would have saved me a lot of money and frustration with SPS in my first year… As a scientist professionally, I can often convince myself I know more than I do just based on book research rather than experience. Experience is often the only way to truly master something.

 

[19Mateo83]

My “first” reef tank was in 2007 and it lasted until 2011, I would like to think that qualifies as “research” period for my current tank. I learned a ton back in those days about lighting, chemistry and keeping corals alive….. yea, some things have changed…. There’s no more $15 yellow tangs anymore ….. pacific live rock is $25/lb but…. There’s been advances in technology (LED’s) and in chemistry (all 4 reef) that honestly make keeping a reef simpler than ever…. Just more expensive….

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I've been at the hobby for 20 years now. It still takes me days of research to pick a single pump. Let alone the whole tank.

Last whole build I did took around 6-8 months of research before I bought anything.

I probably over do it though.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

I've had tanks in my home since childhood. I learned the basics along the way just due to exposure. I still have so much to learn, though!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I can't think of a specific amount of time. I'm still learning every day!

 

[kenchilada]

Day 1 - Buy fish (must be nemo or dory)
Day 2 - Buy neon plastic plants with Petsmart coupon
Day 3 - Remove plastic plants, replace with dry rock
Day 4 - Ugly phase
Day 5 - Post on R2R, need help
Day 6 - Buy $200 of magic potions in a bottle
Day 7 - Post on R2R, need more help
Day 8 - Buy copepods in a bottle
Day 9 - Spend $2000 on a live sale (but you got free shipping so you feel pretty good)
Day 10 - Post on R2R, submit tank photos for TOTM contest
Day 11 - Post on R2R, give chemistry advice to Randy Holmes Farley
Day 12 - Post on R2R, more problems what could it be? (Of course its stray voltage)
Day 12 - Add flux capacitor to handle stray voltage from your curling iron in the other room
Day 13 - Post on R2R, my coral turned white is this ok?
Day 13 - Send water sample for ICP test, turns out all your problems were critically-low antimony and dysprosium
Day 14 - Order $600 of magical trace elements from Temu
Day 15 - Post on R2R, when can I buy a Maven?
Day 16 - Order $2000 frag system
...
Day 399 - Start reef keeping YouTube channel
Day 400 - Begin research
Day 401 - Too hard, sell entire system for $300 on Facebook Marketplace and spend it on cool new stickers for your jetski
Day 402 - Post goodbye post on R2R declaring problems must have been contaminants in your deodorant and you're not willing to switch brands

 

[Brine]

Read, research, revise and before you take the dive make sure you've got a plan. If you can come up with plan b as well then good on you! I think some of the mistakes nowadays derive from the need for instant gratification. If it took the big dude up in the sky a couple days to create the oceans, it should probably take you a little bit longer

 

[Formulator]

Day 1 - Buy fish (must be nemo or dory)
Day 2 - Buy neon plastic plants with Petsmart coupon
Day 3 - Remove plastic plants, replace with dry rock
Day 4 - Ugly phase
Day 5 - Post on R2R, need help
Day 6 - Buy $200 of magic potions in a bottle
Day 7 - Post on R2R, need more help
Day 8 - Buy copepods in a bottle
Day 9 - Spend $2000 on a live sale (but you got free shipping so you feel pretty good)
Day 10 - Post on R2R, submit tank photos for TOTM contest
Day 11 - Post on R2R, give chemistry advice to Randy Holmes Farley
Day 12 - Post on R2R, more problems what could it be? (Of course its stray voltage)
Day 12 - Add flux capacitor to handle stray voltage from your curling iron in the other room
Day 13 - Post on R2R, my coral turned white is this ok?
Day 13 - Send water sample for ICP test, turns out all your problems were critically-low antimony and dysprosium
Day 14 - Order $600 of magical trace elements from Temu
Day 15 - Post on R2R, when can I buy a Maven?
Day 16 - Order $2000 frag system
...
Day 399 - Start reef keeping YouTube channel
Day 400 - Begin research
Day 401 - Too hard, sell entire system for $300 on Facebook Marketplace and spend it on cool new stickers for your jetski
Day 402 - Post goodbye post on R2R declaring problems must have been contaminants in your deodorant and you're not willing to switch brands

 

[kiwikoxo]

I own freshwater and always studied the ways of the salt. It wasn't till I intensively researched, every free time I had for about 7 months, did I started buying stuff. Even then I wish I didn't jump into it so fast because I wish I brought different products now. And research my coral shop before buying. I am dealing with every pest known to mankind.

-marine leeches?? what the heck man

 

[jkcoral]

Day 1 - Buy fish (must be nemo or dory)
Day 2 - Buy neon plastic plants with Petsmart coupon
Day 3 - Remove plastic plants, replace with dry rock
Day 4 - Ugly phase
Day 5 - Post on R2R, need help
Day 6 - Buy $200 of magic potions in a bottle
Day 7 - Post on R2R, need more help
Day 8 - Buy copepods in a bottle
Day 9 - Spend $2000 on a live sale (but you got free shipping so you feel pretty good)
Day 10 - Post on R2R, submit tank photos for TOTM contest
Day 11 - Post on R2R, give chemistry advice to Randy Holmes Farley
Day 12 - Post on R2R, more problems what could it be? (Of course its stray voltage)
Day 12 - Add flux capacitor to handle stray voltage from your curling iron in the other room
Day 13 - Post on R2R, my coral turned white is this ok?
Day 13 - Send water sample for ICP test, turns out all your problems were critically-low antimony and dysprosium
Day 14 - Order $600 of magical trace elements from Temu
Day 15 - Post on R2R, when can I buy a Maven?
Day 16 - Order $2000 frag system
...
Day 399 - Start reef keeping YouTube channel
Day 400 - Begin research
Day 401 - Too hard, sell entire system for $300 on Facebook Marketplace and spend it on cool new stickers for your jetski
Day 402 - Post goodbye post on R2R declaring problems must have been contaminants in your deodorant and you're not willing to switch brands

Fantastic post. I’m blaming you for the coffee I sprayed on my monitor while reading.

Might I add:

Day 169 - post chopped up, booger-sized, mushroom frags on marketplace with the description “$450 - no lowballs I know what I got”

 

[codenfx]

About 5 months of research before I decide to start, I think I went thru that BRS 52 weeks of reefing at least 6 times along with other channels. Almost 3 years later, I'm still researching and watching a ton.